Arts Education for All Act

This proposal expands access to arts learning from early childhood through high school, afterschool, and for youth in the justice system. It tells states and school districts to plan for arts education to help improve student achievement, including adding more arts teachers, partnering with teaching artists, and making arts classes standards-based and sequenced across grades. Local plans must explain how they will support learning in the arts. Struggling schools would review their arts offerings and staffing and then add arts courses based on that review.

Families would see clearer information about arts at their schools. Report cards would list the number and types of arts courses, class sizes, time spent, student participation, and whether courses are taught by fully certified arts teachers, with comparisons between high- and low-poverty schools. Teachers would get more training: districts must offer professional development for arts teachers and help other teachers use the arts in math, reading, science, and more. Afterschool programs could partner more with local arts nonprofits and creative youth groups. Early childhood providers would get training that includes using the arts to support children’s growth across subjects. The plan also encourages states to work with arts groups in juvenile justice and lets reentry programs use arts education to ease the path back to school and work and reduce repeat offenses. It boosts research and data on arts education and keeps a national arts assessment on a regular schedule like before July 24, 2021.

• Who is affected: children in child care; K–12 students (with added focus on low‑income students, students with disabilities, English learners, and students of color); arts and classroom teachers; afterschool and community arts groups; youth and adults in the justice system; state and local education agencies.
• What changes: stronger state and local plans for arts; more data on arts courses and access; professional development for teachers; partnerships with arts nonprofits; research and national assessment in the arts.